The owner of a fruit and veg wholesale company is in a field of dreams after support from a scheme created to help firms expand.

Richard Musgrave moved to new premises in Keighley last July with his business, Straw-berry Fields, receiving assistance and a £10,000 capital grant from Rising Stars, which is jointly delivered by Bradford Council and the Bradford Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Musgrave used the grant to pay for a fleet of new vehicles and upgrade the cold room facilities at Strawberry Fields, which is now thriving after the move following his 20 years as a greengrocer at The Orange Grove in Saltaire.

As well as seeing his business grow thanks to the help from Rising Stars, 2013 will bring more expansion for Strawberry Fields.

“We supply restaurants, hotels, cafes and any retail food outlet, and we’re very close to adding our own prepared vegetable unit for things like coleslaw, diced carrots and potatoes, which we will then be distributing,” said Mr Musgrave.

“I knew it was going to be a difficult year working with the banks so I spoke to Rising Stars adviser Carolyn Townsley. She’s been fantastic and helped us get the grant. It now means all our vans are refrigerated and we’re geared up for getting new business.

“Without Rising Stars, I don’t know if that would have been the case. The continued work with them has given me lots of self-belief to push Strawberry Fields forwards.”

Strawberry Fields, which was among the winners at the recent inaugural Keighley Business Awards, employs 14 staff.

Bradford Council leader Councillor David Green said: “The positive growth and progression of Strawberry Fields during the past few months shows how Rising Stars is proving to be a valuable and worthwhile scheme across the district.”

Visit www.rising-stars for further information about the scheme.